CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

.I started working with Sarah when I was diagnosed with a recurrence of advanced cancer. My mind was a hive of frantic thoughts and emotions. Sarah was able to calmly talk me through a plan of action that would help me to turn down the level of fear and relax. Sarah showed me in simple terms how thoughts can be encouraged to be more positive and therefore give a more relaxed state of mind. As an aside she has also given sound advice on pain management and identified the reason I have a problem swallowing pills which was a revelation! The sessions themselves are deeply relaxing on zoom - especially as I’m normally in bed with Sarah on my iPad on the bedside table! I have found the sessions to be extremely helpful not only for relaxation but for guiding me to seek out my personal strengths and positives within my week. Thank you Sarah for all that you do for me. I cannot recommend you highly enough. Xxxx

Anon

ANXIETY

I got in touch with Sarah as I was suffering from intrusive negative thoughts and anxiety. I had got myself a little worked up before our first meeting but the instant I met Sarah and sat down in her practice I felt completely at ease.

We had a chat about the issues I was having, and she made me feel so comfortable and at ease which allowed me to be completely open this in itself was a great benefit.

We agreed a course of 6 sessions to work through my issues and week after week I could notice marked improvement in the way I was feeling.

Her practice is a wonderful relaxing place with heated blankets and calming aromas.

Sarah is an incredible person and extremely good at what she does. I have recommended multiple people to her and I will 100% be back for little booster sessions as and when I need them.

ANON

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT & SELF ESTEEM

I first contacted Sarah for weight loss, as I have been overweight for most of my life but for the last 10 years it had been really creeping up. A typical yo-yo dieter and I never really believed I could lose the weight. In the first session with Sarah, it became clear that I had a huge lack of confidence and didn’t like going out due to a hatred of my appearance. I avoided mirrors, wore baggy clothes just because they covered the bumps and fit my body. Weight loss with these negative feelings was never going to be possible or permanent.

Fast track forward , I have completely changed my outlook, handle issues in a rational way and my focus is solution based. For example I had a lovely jumper which I didn’t wear even though it fitted fine because I believed I looked fat in it. That’s all I could see. A few weeks later, even though I was the same weight, I put it on and felt fabulous, it was a revelation!!

At the end of 2022 we were ready to tackle my weight loss seriously. I had naturally lost half a stone through being more content but I have now broken through a major barrier and am now a weight I haven’t been for over a decade!

There is still weight to be lost but through Sarah’s sessions I know I can and will lose all the weight permanently. It’s been relatively easy and the key for me are the sessions with Sarah Shaw. I cannot recommend Sarah enough if you want to make positive changes in your life.

For me the huge benefits include enjoying going out, taking more pride in my appearance, seeing friends more, greatly reduced stress, I have taken up yoga and massively reduced my weight with all the health benefits which come with it including reduced blood pressure. The result is a very happy person and I will always be grateful for this chance.

ANON- Zoom Client

TEEN ANXIETY/SCHOOL ANXIETY

Eight weeks ago, my daughter was struggling so badly to be able to get into the ground to watch her beloved Leicester City on that beautifully hot sunny day, it was clear we had a real problem on our hands. She was frustrated, angry and fed up (as well as anxious and physically sick), and I was worried, concerned and anxious as a result. We were both concerned she would find it difficult to go into school at the start of term as had happened last winter, and I had a sense that things might be about to spiral out of control.

Now, it’s like having a different child - I feel like we have got our old child back! The best way I can describe it, is that she just seems so much lighter and brighter. In the mornings before school she used to be hunched, tense and grumpy. And for a year she’s been telling us how much she hates school and wishes she didn’t have to go. Now, in the mornings she gets up and ready without any fuss or grumpiness. She’s no morning lark so isn’t at her most chatty then, but this week I’ve actually heard laughter from her before school, she leaves home without a backward glance and she is actually enjoying school again. I know this because she talks in an excited way about her classes, her teachers, her friends and even her homework. There are other little things too - her confidence on the football pitch seems to have increased, and it feels like she’s spending more time chatting and laughing with us and sharing her life with us again.

About two weeks ago she said that while she was still feeling sick at school in the mornings, it was disappearing by the end of form time, or even by the time she’d got to school, and not dragging on through the day anymore. And she said it didn’t really matter because she didn’t feel scared of it any more in the way she used to.

And then this week she’s said that she hasn’t felt anxious once. Not a single time. And I know that not being able to control when she’d suddenly feel anxious has been hanging around like a frustrating cloud over her head for quite some time. I am so grateful that our paths crossed and we reached out to you for help. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

ANON- ONLINE SESSIONS

STRESS, ANXIETY …… and yes DEPRESSION

It’s a horrible realisation that you’re not coping with what life throws in your direction, especially when it’s the day to day stuff you’ve been comfortably managing for years. The mental ‘slight hole’ I initially fell in, was over time becoming a steep sided chasm with escape always feeling slightly out of reach. As a consequence even simple tasks were becoming challenging and causing me grief…….………………. Now at the end of the Solution Based Hypnotherapy sessions, it’s so good to be able to look back and realise that I’m out of that hole, and that the old me is starting to stare back from the mirror.

My own story is simple; a job I loved had become unchallenging, boring and unfulfilling. A few minor ongoing health issues had left me feeling isolated from friends and family. Overtime I had become stressed, anxious and unable to deal with many routine daily tasks, and I’d started to hide myself away from people and social events. Then the COVID lockdowns hit, my limited but manageable personal interactions where curtailed and eventually I knew I needed help. Fortunately for me my sister found out about Sarah Shaw & Exhale Hypnotherapy and recommended that I contact her.

In our initial telephone session I was impressed by Sarah’s approach, knowledge and explanation of the issues affecting me and how she planned to deal with them and most importantly her confidence that she could help me get back to where I wanted to be.

Due to COVID restrictions, and the distance between where we live, our consultations have been virtual sessions conducted over ZOOM; as a consequence they have tended to be very relaxed, convenient and easy going sessions. Sarah remains friendly and professional, and her approach is very much on looking forward and recognising the good/ positive things that you achieve. It’s surprising the benefits and gains that can be made by recognising and reinforcing even small almost trivial positive events in our daily lives. She gives you tools and techniques to recognise and overcome negative behaviours so they are no longer issues.

By both my nature and profession, I am an analytical and cynical person. I was intrigued and wary at the thought of the hypnosis part of the consultation. I needn’t have worried, the Solution Based Hypnotherapy is only about replacing negative behaviours impacting your health (not making you quack like a duck J). Needless to say my fears were unfounded, it was enlightening, enjoyable and one of the most relaxing things I have ever done. It’s highly recommended to help get a good night sleep. I’m sure Sarah won’t miss my analytical side asking questions about the meaning of colours and images conjured as part of the hypnosis J

By way of explanation for the title of this testimonial, my doctor diagnosed me with stress, anxiety and mild depression. I found it difficult to acknowledge the depression element, focusing more on the anxiety and stress. During the course of our sessions, Sarah helped me admit the part depression played in my situation, and to accept and deal with it in a positive manner.

Finally, just a big thank you to Sarah for helping me.

Mark- Zoom/Online client

Restaurant anxiety

Sarah has helped me deal with my anxiety and fear of eating in restaurants, I'm writing this after having my first meal in a restaurant after four years of not being able to do that. As soon as I stepped foot in Sarah’s house I already felt relaxed and calm and stress free and since meeting her i haven’t had a single panic attack throughout my exams which is what would normally happen. And as a 16 year old girl having anxiety, it feels so horrible but Sarah has helped me so much that i no longer feel those anxious thoughts any more and for that I am so great full. I saw Sarah for 6 weeks and after the third week I already saw improvement. I highly recommend going to Sarah if you were looking at hypnotherapy.

Anon

Stress & Alcohol

I contacted Sarah at Exhale following a recommendation from a friend. At the time I was feeling very stressed, tired, I wasn’t sleeping and was struggling with my work load. I was failing to take time for myself and drinking too much alcohol which was having a knock on effect of my sleep and moving. I was doing very little exercising or general walking and sat in front of the computer most days with few interaction outside of work.

Roll on 6 months and I have finished the 6 session course and I feel great, I am sleeping better, I have just completed 2 months of no alcohol. I handle my work load better and I do not get stressed. On the odd occasion I have I am working through it quickly and letting it go. I no longer feel swamped or like everything is closing in on me. I feel like I am succeeding.

Sarah has been the reason for this, I am so glad I contacted her. The hypnotherapy sessions and the recordings are great, this has helped me to switch off and to fall asleep. I especially like the chat before hand where Sarah asks me what has been good and overtime more good has been happening and more that I was recognising and it wasn’t just good at work it is personal good too.

I no longer need weekly sessions however I am going to continue monthly with Sarah as she has been invaluable to helping me get back to happy.

Anon

MOTHER / DAUGHTER HELP

Sarah was recommended to me for my daughter - who was going through a ‘low point in her life’. Had everything going her way, but couldn’t understand why she felt low and kept crying! She was so nervous for the first consultation session, but Sarah helped her understand how her mind works and through her guidance I have a very strong young lady now - thank you Sarah 💕

I then reached out to Sarah to help me ‘find myself’ again - which I wanted to do without the aid of antidepressants. Antidepressants have helped me with depression/anxiety/panic attacks over the years. Twelve years ago, I ended up in hospital with what doctors described as my body ‘locked down’. I woke up one morning unable to talk and couldn’t even set foot out my front door, may sound silly to some, but never in a million years did expect it! It just hit me. Warning signs were there, but my own doctor dismissed them and depression/anxiety/panic attacks were not something I had ever imagined it to be. From then on over the years I’ve taken citalopram, not for depression but to help with my anxiety and have managed to wean myself off them once before, but the withdrawal symptoms were horrendous- restless leg/skin crawling/itching/brain fog amongst others. Following a lapse three years ago I was prescribed them again. Recently, when I felt the time was right, I slowly began to wean myself from them (I started this before my sessions with Sarah had begun and continued during them) and am so happy to write I had ‘no’ withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. Taking the medication had become a way of life for me and that’s okay I needed it, I felt no shame in it, but for me I never felt ‘me’ while on them. Through Sarah’s positive guidance I now feel a stronger, more confident person and take time out myself without feeling guilty, as Sarah helped me understand it’s okay to do that - life carries on around you. Through Sarah’s hypnotherapy sessions and listening to the recording/writing out my three P’s each night - it changed my mindset. I no longer look for the negatives in everything and an added bonus I sleep through the night (this was something my daughter had noticed about herself too). No more waking up - overthinking things - scrolling through my phone! Sorry if you feel I have waffled through this review, but the first thing I did when Sarah was recommended to me was to look at her reviews - probably like some of you are doing now. Everyone has a different background as to why they have reached out to Sarah - all I can say is if you’re unsure if Sarah can help you just try it. I cannot recommend her enough; she is a gem 💕. I looked forward to our sessions each week and can definitely say I’m going to miss them, but it’s good to know I have my recording and she is always there if my daughter/I need her. Thank you, Sarah, for helping us both 💕

ANON

DOG PHOBIA

I can not recommend Sarah enough. My 13 year old had been suffering with a phobia of dogs for a number of years and it was taking over her life, she would not go out to places where she thought dogs would be, and if she saw one she would have a panic attack, struggle to breath, cry and shake. I contacted Sarah for help. She was amazing from start to finish, met both me and my daughter and explained what was happening to her in a way she would understand and the process she could support her in to help her deal with the phobia. My daughter then had the 4 phobia sessions and the difference in her is unbelievable. She can now go out, walk past dogs without panic, and amazingly she actually stroked a dog the other day. This treatment has changed her life. Thank you Sarah for giving my daughter her life back.

Sam

TRAUMA & DENTAL PHOBIA

I wanted to share with you how I feel after my hypnotherapy sessions and start with thanking you for making such a huge and important difference to my life. I believe that the work that I have done with you will have a far-reaching impact and has empowered me to have the skills and ability to make changes which have the potential to change the path of my life forever. Now, that is a really big statement and to be honest if I had read that or you had told me that I wouldn’t have believed you, but it is true.

When I came for my first consultation with you, I came with a very focused issue, post traumatic stress, caused by medical mismanagement which I needed to be able to cope with to have the reparative treatments necessary. At that time, going anywhere near the medical setting was pretty much impossible, even with diazepan I was having panic attacks, sleepless nights and I just couldn’t get over the trauma and move forward. I knew I couldn’t continue with this and lead a normal life; I knew I needed help –CBT hadn’t helped me, and the other options were all about reliving the trauma, and that wasn’t something I could face. Due to the calm, nonjudgmental, future facing, solution-based approach you suggested, while skeptical I knew that this was something I wanted to try, you were the only specialist I had seen which presented me with hope.

I looked forward to my first session, really wanting to see a change but still I think I had all the usual thoughts: my brain won’t relax enough to allow me to be hypnotized. Is it really real, or is it just another treatment that will make no difference? Am I a good candidate? Will this change me? – but I went with a view to making a difference, the first session didn’t feel like a ‘treatment’ it felt like a treat! Afterwards I followed all the advice (and now over 2 months later I still do!) and while not waking feel cured, I did feel like I was empowered to make a change.

This was the first in 8 sessions, and I had to go back to the medical setting after session number 3. That to me was the biggest challenge of all, the test of whether this was working. For the first time since ‘the incident’ I didn’t medicate to get through the door, I was able to sit outside and listen to your recording before walking in. Now, that doesn’t sound much but walking in was a big issue in the first place. I managed to make it through the treatment, using visualization from your sessions, no medication with only a few silent tears. This was huge progress and convinced me that finally something was helping to fix me. That isn’t to say it has all been plain sailing as there were times when I should have thought and booked additional session with you – but all the medical professionals involved can’t believe the change in me since I started seeing you. I can’t believe it either, I never thought I would be so free from the pain and trauma – thank you.

In fact, I have been asked to refer you to my surgeon as he believes you can help others like me. I could stop there, but some other things changed. Life is busy and stressful, I’ve always doubted myself in all areas of life, I was never a good enough friend, employee, wife, or parent, I would worry endlessly about things. The sessions you ran have impacted it all, I no longer feel like I’m always out of my depth and the cards may come crashing down… and when the worry does seep in, I can stop, listen to my recording, and consciously acknowledge the thoughts but redirect them. I feel hope and joy that I really never expected to feel, the ‘edge’ has gone, I know I will survive and thrive now.

So yes, you changed my life, you solved my problem and you made more of a difference than I can really capture, I’m so glad I walked through your door. Thank you – thank you so much".

Jen- Barton Under Needwood

Anon

PAIN MANAGEMENT

"I started working with Sarah when I was diagnosed with a recurrence of advanced cancer. My mind was a hive of frantic thoughts and emotions. Sarah was able to calmly talk me through a plan of action that would help me to turn down the level of fear and relax. Sarah showed me in simple terms how thoughts can be encouraged to be more positive and therefore give a more relaxed state of mind. As an aside she has also given sound advice on pain management and identified the reason I have a problem swallowing pills which was a revelation! The sessions themselves are deeply relaxing on zoom - especially as I’m normally in bed with Sarah on my iPad on the bedside table! I have found the sessions to be extremely helpful not only for relaxation but for guiding me to seek out my personal strengths and positives within my week. Thank you Sarah for all that you do for me. I cannot recommend you highly enough". Xxxx

Anon

TRAUMA / DEPRESSION

"Sarah reached out to me a few times over the last year. And when I was ready I knew exactly who I needed help from.

My whole past has been filled with trauma, pain and rejection, and I honestly thought I was “holding it together”. But I really wasn’t.

My past was defining me and holding me a prisoner and eating away at me. Over the last 6 weeks Sarah has patiently and lovingly taught me that I do not need to feel that way anymore. Teaching me to focus on my future thoughts, not letting the negatives in my past dictate who I am today or tomorrow.

I’ve just gone through some major changes in my life and still have challenges ahead, but with Sarah’s help I can face these without the fear and anxiety that I used to feel on such a scale that I didn’t even get dressed from week to week, avoiding contact with people, hiding away from the world with such a fear of rejection it was crippling me. In just 6 weeks I feel so much more positive. I have actually been dressed every day for the last 2 weeks, (even tho I still have nowhere to go lol). I cannot thank this lady enough for helping me at a time that I really didn’t see hope.

I had such complex trauma I really didn’t think there was anything or anyone that could help, and the refreshing thing is I didn’t have to address any of my past, Sarah gave me the ability to look at Now, today and tomorrow and that life can be happier, I can be happier..... and I really am. Sarah is special, she has a beautiful calm warmth about her that instantly relaxed me and although I’ve shed many tears during my sessions with Sarah, she’s been a blessing for me and i could never thank her enough for what she’s done for me".

Donna Marie

INNER CALM

“I was really pleased to be selected as one of Sarah’s clients whilst she studies for her new venture. She enthused about the possibilities this therapy could open up, drawing my interest and my acceptance into the process. Every week I have come through our sessions with a new perspective and inner calm. Sometimes I drifted so far that I missed parts of the story and was surprised where it took me. Sarah’s work will be invaluable to those who are struggling with life, especially during these difficult times. I’m looking forward to our next session”.

Anon.

ANXIETY

“I had a consultation and first solution focused hypnotherapy session with Sarah Shaw . It was a zoom session with the current situation and oh my god I can’t explain what an empowering amazing beautiful experience it was. I won’t lie I was intrigued firstly ... as Sarah had embarked on this new path and career and is training to support people with many things like anxiety , depression , panic attacks and lots more. It blew me away with her calm but uplifting character and amazing sense of knowledge she possesses. She stripped things back and took me by total surprise and made me really understand my brain and how it controls our every being explaining in simple yet clear detail - how this unbelievable machine works and functions and controls us. Continuing into our session she put me in a state of pure relaxation - I could have been anywhere, the music the voice, I felt like I had slept for days after the hour was complete. In my case I wanted to address lack of sleep, overthinking and worrying unnecessarily and just how you have to deal with things. there has been times I’ve experienced anxiety in the last couple of years which you sometimes feel embarrassed to share. All I know is you always need a little support and may be afraid to reach out ... in one way or another . Sometimes the answers are not always within when you feel alone, nor clear especially living in this mad world in my case single girl carrying on and just dealing with things. I do seek spiritual guidance often and I’m fairly positive and grounded but this was another level. If you connect with anything I have said then genuinely seek out Solution Focused Hypnotherapy”.

Sabrina

RELAXATION

"I just wanted to send a short note to say how happy I am that I made the decision to join your ‘programme’. Although I felt that I was pretty much beyond help, I am amazed how much progress has been made in such a short amount of time. Our sessions are very relaxing and enjoyable. I’m thinking clearer and making important decisions again which has made me feel so much more in control and I’m coping much better day to day”.

Anon.

ENERGY LEVELS & SLEEP

“Sarah focuses on solutions-based hypnotherapy, and in my case, relaxation. Whilst I was looking forward to relaxing, I soon learnt it was a lot more than that for me and that I needed this a lot more than I realised. I leave our weekly hourly session feeling revived, relaxed and calm. But not just that, hypnotherapy helps me to understand more about why I do things, and what I can do to make small improvements in my life that will have a significant impact. I’ve learnt a lot already and made some positive changes in various areas of my life, improving sleep, exercise, energy levels and avoiding procrastination. I’ve always struggled to get to sleep and I've tried everything! Hypnotherapy has definitely helped me to drift off to sleep easier with a calmer mind and I often listen to Sarah's recording instead of a sleep story. My affirmations began a few weeks ago, at first in my head, then said out loud, and then Sarah suggested writing them down in a notebook. My positive thoughts, actions and interactions. I am so excited to carry on with my sessions. After just six weeks I am already seeing what I’m sure are long-lasting benefits and habit changes. I cannot recommend Exhale enough”.

Vicky

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